Getting the movie to Chinese audiences at the same time as American moviegoers is a growing trend and a key tactic for DMG, which is handling distribution for "Transcendence" in China, the world's second biggest film market behind the U.S.

Disney's "Iron Man 3," which DMG also helped distribute, opened in China before its U.S. release and generated about $125 million in the country. Worldwide, it was the biggest movie of 2013, pulling in a total of $1.2 billion.

DMG helped add Chinese elements to both "Iron Man 3" and 2012's "Looper," though it has not done the same with "Transcendence."

In July DMG teamed with Alcon Entertainment to help finance and produce "Transcendence," which follows a scientist trying to create a machine with collective intelligence and human emotions. The film is getting its U.S. release via Warner Bros.